Method of cleaning a drying wire in a paper making machine

Abstract

A method of cleaning a drying wire of a paper making machine using at least one pressurized water jet directed against the surface of the wire by a nozzle. The nozzle is supplied with water under a pressure higher than normal water pipe pressure, preferably a pressure of 430-1300 psi. The increased pressure of the water jet reduces the amount of water remaining in the wire due to increased water flow passing through the wire. Consequently the increased pressure of the water jet makes it possible to clean the drying wire during production and web formation.

What I claim is: 
     
       1. A method of cleaning a drying wire in a drying section of a paper making machine by subjecting the surface of the drying wire to at least one pressurized water jet, wherein the drying wire is formed with a transverse joint or seam preventing the use of suction boxes to remove water therefrom, comprising the steps of maintaining the water jet at a pressure selected within a pressure range of approximately 430 psi to approximately 1300 psi to produce a pressurized water flow; impinging the pressurized flow from the water jet onto the drying wire so that the pressurized flow from the water jet impinges on the drying wire in a direction substantially orthogonal to the surface thereof so that cleaning of the drying wire occurs during production of paper with said paper making machine and water remaining in the drying wire does not disturb the web formation; wherein the pressurized flow volume increases at progressively higher pressures while the amount of water remaining in the drying wire decreases at progressively higher pressures within said pressure range; and reciprocating the water jet transversely along the drying wire. 
     
     
       2. The method of claim 1, wherein said pressurized flow inpinging onto the drying wire is approximately 0.8 gallon per minute when the selected pressure is approximately 600 psi, said pressurized flow being progressively higher at higher pressures within the pressure range to approximately 1.7 gallons per minute the selected pressure is approximately 1300 psi. 
     
     
       3. The method of claim 1, wherein the selected pressure is approximately 1300 psi and the pressurized flow is approximately 1.7 gallons per minute. 
     
     
       4. The method of claim 1, wherein more than half of the supplied water Q s  does not remain and passes through the drying wire. 
     
     
       5. The method of claim 1, wherein said water jet is ejected from a single nozzle reciprocating transversely across the width of the wire. 
     
     
       6. The method of claim 5, wherein said orthogonal orientation of the water jet performs only a cleaning action on the drying wire without exerting a guiding action. 
     
     
       7. The method of claim 1, wherein said water jet is sprayed onto a upper surface of the wire and with uniform pressure between edges of the wire. 
     
     
       8. A method of cleaning a drying wire in a drying section of a paper making machine by subjecting the surface of the drying wire to at least one pressurized water jet, wherein the drying wire is formed with a transverse joint or seam preventing the use of suction boxes to remove water therefrom, comprising the steps of maintaining the water jet at a pressure selected within a pressure range of at least greater than 600 psi to approximately 1300 psi to produce a pressurized water flow; impinging the pressurized flow from the water jet onto the drying wire so that the pressurized flow from the water jet impinges on the drying wire in a direction substantially orthogonal to the surface thereof such that cleaning of the drying wire occurs during production of paper with said paper making machine and water remaining in the drying wire does not disturb web formation; wherein the pressurized flow volume increases at progressively higher pressures while the amount of water remaining in the drying wire decreases at progressively higher pressures within said pressure range; and reciprocating the water jet transversely along the drying wire.